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Report on Best Practices in Comprehensive Community Planning for First Nations

by NationTalk onOctober 5, 20093236 Views

October 5, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vancouver – The New Relationship Trust (NRT) today released two reports – Gaining Momentum: Sharing 96 Best Practices of First Nations Comprehensive Community Planning, and the shorter version of the report, Gaining Momentum: Sharing 50 Best Practices of First Nations Comprehensive Community Planning. The reports provide ideas on how First Nations can approach comprehensive community planning (CCP) by drawing on research and experience from the author and First Nations that have been through the CCP process.The two CCP reports written by Jeff Cook of Beringia Community Planning Inc were commissioned by NRT to provide an overview of the methods and systems used by First Nations as they went through the CCP process so that other First Nations may also determine their strategic community plans based on community values and priorities.

“The purpose of the comprehensive community planning reports is to provide First Nations with a resource to help them through the complexity of an all-encompassing project,” stated NRT General Manager, Chanze Gamble. “When we consider what a comprehensive plan entails – education, health, Elder and youth involvement and how this ensures the transfer of cultural knowledge, economic development, how to build a strong governance system supported by sound leadership practices, and of course how we assert our inherent rights to our land – this can become a daunting task. We hope these reports will help support First Nations through that process.”

“I would like to thank the many First Nations who made this rich learning experience possible,” states Jeff Cook of Beringia. “It has been an honour to speak with First Nations and community planners from across Canada about their CCP experience, and to be able share this knowledge as best practices with a wider planning community. These best practices are an important contribution towards understanding and celebrating First Nations planning practice, which we hope will encourage others and inspire action.”

NRT is a not-for-profit organization that supports First Nation communities in British Columbia in their efforts to build capacity in order to become healthy, prosperous and self-sufficient.

The Gaining Momentum: Sharing 96 Best Practices of First Nations Comprehensive Community Planning, and the shorter version, Gaining Momentum: Sharing 50 Best Practices of First Nations Comprehensive Community Planning reports are the fourth of a five part best practice report series commissioned by NRT to be released in the fall of 2009. The other four First Nations best practices reports include: • Consultation and Accommodation • Governance (previously released) • Environmental Assessment (previously released) • Land Use Planning (previously released)